Pique expects more success

Pep Guardiola's side heads into this weekend's action 10 points behind leader Real Madrid, a 3-2 loss at Osasuna 10 days ago the latest setback to its hopes of retaining the league title.

But the Catalan side is still going strong in its bid to become the first team to defend the UEFA Champions League crown - it has one foot in the quarter-finals after winning 3-1 at Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of its last-16 tie - and Pique believes the critics will soon be eating their words.

The 25-year-old told Barca TV: "It's been going on for three-and-a-half years now and things are still going very well.

"We mustn't forget that we've already won three titles this season - that makes 13 out of 16. Astounding.

"Sometimes in football things happen so fast that it seems like we have no memory and forget about the things we have done.

"Okay, we're not in the league position we would have hoped to have been in at the start of the season, but we're still very alive in three competitions. I am convinced that this team can carry on doing as well for several more seasons."

Madrid moved provisionally 13 points clear at the summit with a 4-0 stroll past Racing Santander, but Barca responding by thrashing Valencia 5-1 at the Nou Camp to serve warning it will not give up the title without a fight.

"I think the difference in the league is excessive," Pique said. "We're playing great football. There have been a lot of points we have dropped in the last few minutes.

"We shouldn't think about the distance right now. We have to go game by game. Try to enjoy ourselves, try to win and let's see if in a couple of months we are better positioned to close in on the leaders and make the league a bit more exciting."

Pique was omitted from the matchday squad for last week's game in Germany after having been at fault for all of Osasuna's three goals in Pamplona the previous weekend.

Guardiola quickly insisted he retained faith in the Spain international, though, and the former Manchester United centre-back has also played down any talk of a rift.

"There aren't any problems," he said. "We've been working together for years. I know what he wants from me and I don't think there are any problems in that sense.

"We have always spoken to each other face to face whenever there's been anything to be said and if there is anything wrong, then he wouldn't have any problem with coming up to me and saying it.

"At the end of the day, if you listened to everything people say, you'd go crazy. You just have to concentrate on what you have to do and try to ignore what people are saying."

Guardiola, who has led the club to 13 trophies including three league titles and two Champions League crowns since taking over in the northern summer of 2008, has not yet decided whether to commit his future to the club beyond this season.

The players are doing all they can to get the coach to renew his deal, but will respect whatever decision the 41-year-old makes.

"I don't think it depends on us," Pique added. "The manager has always said he is proud of our performances and how we behave on the pitch. I think his biggest doubts are related to his family and his personal life.

"He has to dedicate 24 hours a day to football, and that's too much sometimes.

"We are doing all we can for him to renew. All the players have stated what we want and we are doing all we can on the pitch to show how much we would like him to stay with us. But it's his decision, and we have to respect it."